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Actor William Smithers Dies at 98, Broadway Star, Dallas Veteran

6/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

William Smithers died on May 26 2026 at age 98.
He won a Theater World Award for his 1951 Broadway debut as Tybalt and an Obie in 1957 for The Seagull.
He played Jeremy Wendell on Dallas (1981, 1984-89) and sued MGM in 1976, winning a precedent-setting ruling.
From 1995 he lived in Santa Barbara, produced radio theatre, co-hosted TV interviews, and served on the Arts Advisory Committee after 2015.

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Story summary

William Smithers died on May 26 2026 at age 98.
He won a Theater World Award for his 1951 Broadway debut as Tybalt and an Obie in 1957 for The Seagull.
He played Jeremy Wendell on Dallas (1981, 1984-89) and sued MGM in 1976, winning a precedent-setting ruling.
From 1995 he lived in Santa Barbara, produced radio theatre, co-hosted TV interviews, and served on the Arts Advisory Committee after 2015.